The 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow has sparked discussion over the absence of “preferred lies” due to heavy rain, which allows players to clean their balls in muddy conditions. The PGA of America decided that players must play the ball as it lies, leading to frustration among golfers like Scottie Scheffler, who believes hitting from the fairway shouldn’t result in penalties due to muddy conditions, and Xander Schauffele, who expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. This controversy has brought attention to the challenges players face from “mud balls” during the championship.
